Plaza in Center of Hopewell gets Facelift, New Facade

From the Southern Dutchess News
By Kristine Coulter

Hopewell Plaza will be receiving a new look. The plaza will have a 'facelift' that will be finished some time in the fall. In attendance at the ceremony were: Town of East Fishkill Supervisor John Hickman, Claris Construction, Inc. President Philip Clark, Property owner Pan Furtsch-McNeley, Office Manager Judy Schwartz, Property Manager Richard Faulkner, Claris Vice-president Bill Jacabacci, Project Manager Eric Maria and On-site Project Superintendent Mark Spray.

June 6, 2007

EAST FISHKILL- It is at the heart of the Hopewell Plaza, and it will be receiving a new look.

"We're planning on putting a new facade on the building. The shopping center has been in disarray for quite some time. It's a very old building. It's in the center of town in a very prime location and a wonderful intersection," said Pam Furtsch-McNeley, property owner and manager.

Furtsch-McNeley describes the renovations being done to the center as an "entire new face lift."

We are elevating the whole facade so the tenants will be more easily recognized and giving it a whole general face lift, a new parking area," she said.

Philip Clark, architect and president of Claris Construction, Inc. located in Bridgeport, CT, said when the renovations are complete, the plaza will have "a village look."

"it's tan tones. We're trying to reuse some of the existing brick, tie that all in," Clark said.

Construction began last week and according to Clark the renovations are expected toe be completed some time in October.

"We're starting at the bakery, coming around the smaller building and then we'll do the larger building, that's phase two," he said.

The Pastry Garden is located in the plaza. Susan Bianco, who has worked in the bakery for almost two years, said customers have asked questions about the work being done.

"They didn't know what the deal was, what they were doing. No negatives, very happy," she said.

Clark said the company will use scaffold and temporary walk ways during renovations.

"We're very safety conscious. It's just a metter of staying focusedand keeping an eye on things. These projects usually go smoothly," he said.

Furtsch-McNeley said, "Everybody is thrilled. It's been a long time coming. It's been in the works for years and it's finally happened. Everybody's very excited" about the project.

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